St. Patrick's Prayer

This is the a Prayer that I am trying to memorize to use kinda like a daily creed.  It is attributed to Patrick of Ireland, and is sometimes called the "Deer's Cry", do to a legend stating that he shape shifted into deer while hiding from druids, who were seeking his life after he lit the fires his first Easter back in Erin.  More likely, he was hiding in the same thicket and the deer became scared by the approaching angry druids, but Patrick did not, as another version of the story goes.  Either way, even if neither version happened, it is an awesome testament of faith, and one I treasure.

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Saint Patrick's Breastplate

I arise today to a might strength,

through the invocation of the Trinity,

Through the belief in the Oneness,

Through the confession of the Threeness,

Of the Creator of the Universe.

Christ within me,

Christ behind me, 

Christ before me,

Christ to my right,

And Christ to my left,

Christ when I sit down,
Christ when I lay down,

Christ when I arise,

Christ in the heart of everyone who thinks of me,

Christ on the lips of everyone who speaks of me,

Christ in the eyes of everyone who sees me,

Christ in the ears of everyone who hears of me,
Both afar and anear!

I arise today to a might strength,

through the invocation of the Trinity,

Through the belief in the Oneness,

Through the confession of the Threeness,

Of the Creator of the Universe.

Salvation is the Lord's,

Salvation is the Lord's,

Salvation is Christ's alone!

Amen!

~ Patrick of Ireland

AD 433?

St. Patricks Day!

I have three favorite holidays (plus a few only a few know about), and today is one of them.  Christmas, Halloween, and St. Patrick's Day... not because of the wear'n of the green, the leprechauns, or the likes... no for the man, Patrick of Ireland, or Maewyn Succut Padriag to be exact.  He was the man who brought God's Word to my people, the Irish for the first time where it really took off.  Sure, a few had come before, and there were some believers among the slaves... but it was with Patrick that it took hold in the upper classes as well.   He was a man who was first a slave of the Irish people, found his freedom, then risked his life returning to them to share the Gospel... that is true love and faith... they could have killed him on the spot for being a runaway slave...

His witness, and becoming one of those whom he was sent to (no one remembers for sure where he came from, but everyone remembers him among the Irish)... so completely he called them his people... is inspiration for me...
"O, God,  might I be like that on my journey-task! Amen!"

~ Morria